NIAGARA UNIV., N.Y. – Niagara (11-4-2, 5-2-0) defeated the Iona Gaels (10-5-1, 4-3) 3-1 en route to its third straight win on Sunday afternoon at Niagara Field. Seniors Matthew Durand (Melbourne, Australia), Eric Brodfuehrer (Tonawanda, N.Y.) and Billy Gustafson (Rochester, N.Y.) each bagged a goal on their senior day.
“It was a great performance against a very good team and an important result in terms of conference standings,” head coach Dermot McGrane.
Niagara and Iona entered the game tied with 12 points in the conference, with two games remaining for both teams.
The Purple Eagles played a crisp, free flowing attacking soccer in the first half.
In the 19th minute, Durand sprinted past the Iona backline to pick up a through ball and he slotted the ball around the keeper for his 13th goal of the season. The Purple Eagles made it 2-0 in the 22nd minute. Desmond Betteto (Sarna, Ont.) dribbled past his marker in the box and his pass found Brodfuehrer and he smashed it in the net for his eighth goal of the season.
Anthony DiBiase’s (Richmond Hill, Ont.) pin-point free kick found the foot of Billy Gustafson and the senior volleyed it home to take a commanding 3-0 lead after 38 minutes played.
Iona would pull one back two minutes before halftime from a goal by Giovanni Destasio.
The Niagara defense buckled down well in the second half, limiting the Gaels to very few scoring chances. The Purple Eagles, however, had some decent scoring chances. In the 62nd minute, Brodfuehrer’s shot hit the wrong side of the net. 10 minutes later, Durand blazed past his marker and his lawnmower shot beat the keeper, but his shot hit the post.
Keeper John Fiutowski (Ottawa, Ont.) made six saves in a game with little to do.
“It was nice to have three of our seniors to get on the score sheet on senior day,” McGrane said about his seniors. “This senior class has contributed a lot to Niagara University and the success of our soccer program.”
Niagara’s next game is on the road at Manhattan on November 7 at 7 p.m.
